Strip feeding device



NOV. 22, 1955 DAVlDSON 2,724,280

STRIP FEEDING DEVICE Filed May 13, 1952 United States Patent Ofitice 2,724,280 Fatented Nov. 22, 1955 STRIP FEEDING DEVICE John T. Davidson, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Rlelgister Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of io Application May 13, 1952, Serial No. 287,550

12 Claims. (Cl. 74-243) This invention relates to pin type strip feeding devices, particularly as used in the feeding of continuous, series connected marginally perforated record forms. The invention has special reference to pin feed devices wherein the pins may be simultaneously retracted or extended, such devices being mounted on a rotary shaft, and rendered alternatively effective and ineffective. Thus a number of such devices may be mounted on a shaft, with each device being individually adjustable so that some may be made ineffective and others effective, in accordance with the width of the record forms being fed. Also a machine might present fixed end wheels and one or more auxiliary pin wheels adjustable relatively to the fixed pin wheels. Thus record forms of different widths can be accommodated by selecting varying combinations of fixed and adjustable pin wheels. When the auxiliary pin wheel or pin wheels are not in use it is desirable to retract the feeding pins thereof beneath the surface of the wheel so as to avoid interference with the record forms.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construe tion as well as the means and mode of operation of strip feeding devices, whereby such devices may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more eiiicient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications, having relatively few parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to present a generally new retractable pin type feed device, especially characterized by a novel means for mounting and controlling the feeding pins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a positive means for effecting quick movement of the feeding pins, to and from projecting or effective position, utiliz ing a combination of tilting and sliding movements of the pins.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for locating and holding the pins in projecting or feeding position.

A still further object of the invention is to adapt devices of the kind described for a more facile and efficient use in conjunction with trimmer means for removing perforate margins of the strips.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding device of the character described, possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein described.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and cornbinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a pin wheel unit mounted on a pin wheel shaft, in accordance with the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the pin wheel unit, at a reduced scale;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the washer forming the base for the thrust spring removed;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the thrust spring and the adjustment collar also removed;

Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal section of the pin wheel unit, showing the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 1, and at the same scale;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. l, with the feeding pins retracted;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the thrust spring removed and showing a spanner wrench applied to the adjustment collar; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view in side elevation of a feeding pin.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

, Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 an assembled strip feeding device embodying the present invention, mounted on a rotary shaft 10. The feeding device comprises a smooth surfaced relatively broad body 11 having a through longitudinal bore 12. At one end thereof the body is reduced in diameter to define a shoulder 13.

A substantially rectangular key 14 is longitudinally disposed in the bore 12 and is bodily received in a longitudinal keyway 15 in the shaft 10. The key 14 has a recess 16 in which is engaged the inner end of a set screw 17 mounted in a radial opening 18 in the body 11. The interengagernent of the screw 17 and recess 16 serves to locate the key 14 relatively to the body 11. Further, rotary motion between the key 14 and the body 11 is prevented, and, since the key 14 is mounted in keyway 15, relative rotary motion between the body 11 and shaft 10 also is prevented. A substantially integral relation between the parts is obtained by tightening the screw 17 downward upon the key 14, seating this member firmly in the keyway 15. The body 11 accordingly is rotatable with the shaft 10 and further normally is locked against relative longitudinal motion. By loosening the set screw 17, the body 11, of course, may be readjusted lengthwise along the shaft 10.

The stepped down end of the body 11 is formed with a circular groove 19 defining an annular land 21. The land 21 is in turn out by a circumferential series of radial slots 22. The latter are intersected by diagonal slots 23 opening at their one ends into the grooves 19 and opening at their outer ends through the surface of the body 11. The radial slots 22 have a half round formation, and their intersection by the diagonal slots 23 is such as to provide radially spaced apart shoulders 24 and 25.

The radial slots 22 are arranged to receive cylindrical tapered-nose feeding pins 26 held in an upright position by the shoulders 24 and 25. The lower or inner ends of the feeding pins 26 extend into the annular groove 19 and each has a turned over or pivot portion 27 substantially at right angles to the main body portion of the pins. Such pivot portions 27 are received in respective holes 28 near the periphery of a collar 29 rotatably mounted on the reduced shoulder portion 13 of the body 11. There is a circumferential series of the holes 28 corresponding in number to the radial slots 22. Also mounted on the reduced diameter shoulder portion 13, and seated in a groove in the periphery thereof is a retaining ring 31. An abutment washer 32 limits against the retaining ring 31 and provides a seat for a thrust spring 33, interposed between the washer 32 and the collar 29, and exerting an axial pressure upon the collar 29 toward the adjacent end of the body 11. By reason of such pressure the feeding pins 26, which occupy positions between the collar 29 and the body 11, are pressed against the annular land 21 and may be considered to be yieldingly gripped between the land 21 and the collar 29.

Extending outwardly from each pivot hole or opening 28 in the collar 29 is a slot 34. The slots 34are smaller in width than the opening 28 so that the feeding pins 26 cannot drop out of the collar 29. The slots 34 are, however, of suificient width partly to embrace the rounded vertical portion of the feeding pins 26 and so exert a detenting action resulting from and supplementing the pressure of the spring 33 and the static reactant force provided by the body 11. Thus, with the feeding pins 26 in a radial position relative to the axis of the collar 29 the pins are aligned with the slots 34 and are engaged thereby to resist relative rocking motion of the pins as well as rotary motion of the collar 29 upon the reduced diameter shoulder 13.

As' indicated in Fig. 7, the slots 34 may serve the further function of providing a means of engagement of the collar 29 by a spanner wrench 35 to turn the collar 29 relatively to the body 11 upon the reduced diameter shoulder 13. The wrench may be readily engaged with the collar in any rotative position of adjustment of the pin feeding device.

With the feeding pins 26 positioned as above described, that is in a position radial with respect to the axis of the collar 29 and the body 11, the pins are seated in the radial slots 22 'in the annular land 21. The pivot holes 28 for the pins 26 are in this position of the parts aligned with the slots 22 so that the feeding pins 26, are in an uprightor projecting position with respect to the body 11, the upper ends of the pins extending above the surface of the body in feeding position. The parts are, moreover, yieldingly locked in this position bythe spring 33 which, as before described, acts through the collar 29 to hold the feeding pins frictionally in the slots 22. I

'Referring to Fig. 4, a rotary adjustment of the collar 29 in a clockwise direction is prevented by reason of the'shoulders 24 and 25 of the slots 22 which preclude rocking motion of the feeding pins 26 in a counterclockwise direction. Rotary adjustment of the collar in the opposite or counterclockwise direction is possible, however, and when initiated causes pivotal or rocking movement of the pins about the respective shoulders 24. The pins 26 may in this manner be brought substantially into alignment with the diagonal slots 23, continued counterclockwise movement of the collar 29 resulting in the pins 26 sliding inward in the slots 23 to bring the outer ends thereof beneath the surface of the body 11. The position of the parts with the feeding pins so retracted is shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Return motion of the collar 29 in a clockwise direction results in a reverse motion of the pins 26. Thus there. is an initial sliding movement in the slot 23, followed by a rocking movement about the shoulder 25 and terminating with the feeding pins in an upright projecting position as the pivot holes 28 in the collar 29 are brought into alignment with the half round slots 22. The slots 34 serve as a locating means in this connection and the arrival of the collar 29 in the described position will be a snap action as the slots 34 achieve aligned, cooperative relation with the pins 26. The pins are accordingly held and steadied in projecting position. The position of the parts in retracted position is yieldingly maintained by the spring 33 which exerts a continuous pressure upon the collar 29, which in turn presses the pins 26 against the annular land 21.

The diameter of the body 11 and the diameter of collar 29 are the same. ation of the body, on the opposite side of the pins 26. The surface of the body is smooth whereby rotary slitters, often used in conjunction with pin type feeding The collar is in effect a continudevices may have a bearing directly on the feeding device.

In addition, with further regard to the engagement of the feeding pins 26 by the slots 34, it will be noted in Fig. 8 that each pin 26 is undercut by a slot 36 at the base of the main body portion of the pin. The collar 29 is accordingly enabled to achieve an intimate contacting relation with the pins 26 in order to insure a better engagement of the slots 34 therewith and to provide a more closely adjacent relationship between the collar and the surface of the body 11.

Reference is made to copending applications Serial Nos. 138,226 and 138,233, filed January 12, 1950, now matured into Letters Patents Nos. 2,663,196 and 2,663,197, respectively, and also application Serial No. 287,549, filed concurrently herewith, for a disclosure of other structures of a similar nature.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a pin supporting body, a circumferential series of radial slideways in said body, opposed cut-out portions in said slideways in radially offset relation to one another, pins in said slideways, and a collar carried by said body for relative rotary movement, said pins being pivotally connected at their one ends to said collar to be rocked thereby into and out of said cut-out portions.

2. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a cylindrical body having a reduced diameter shoulder at one end thereof, a collar rotatably mounted on said shoulder, a circumferential series of feeding pins mounted between said collar and said body, said pins being pivotally connected at their inner ends to said collar, and a grooved formation in said body receiving said pins and shaped to eifect retracting and extending motions of said pins with respect to the circumferential surface of said body in response to relative rotary adjustment of said collar.

3. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a cylindrical body having a reduced diameter shoulder at one end thereof, a collar rotatably mounted on said shoulder, spring means urging said collar toward said one end of said body, a circumferential series of pins gripped by the pressure of said spring means between said collar and the body, said pins being pivotally connected at their one ends to said collar and arranged to have their opposite ends project above the surface of said body to an operative or feeding position, and abutment formations on said one end of the body engageable with each of said pins intermediate the ends thereof for effecting retracting and extending movements of said pins relative to the surface of the body in response to to and fro rotary motion of said collar relative to said body.

4. A pin type strip feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that said abutment formations comprise a pair of radially spaced apart abutments for each pin, each pair of abutments being further spaced apart in a circumferential direction to define radial slideways for said pins within which said pins may rock bodily in response to shifting of the point of pivotal connection of said pins to said collar into and out of alignment with said slideways.

5. A pin type stripfeeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a body having a reduced diameter shoulder at one end thereof, a collar rotatably mounted on said shoulder, spring means urging said collar toward said one end of the body, a circumferential series of feeding pins mounted between said collar and said one end of the body to have their outer ends project radially above the surface of the body, pivotal connections between the inner ends of said pins and said collar, and abutment shoulders on said one end of the body engageable with said pins intermediate the ends thereof to efiect a tilting motion of said pins beneath the surface of the body in response to movement of said collar relative to said body in one direction.

6. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a cylindrical body having a reduced diameter shoulder at one end thereof, a circumferential series of radial slots in said one end of the body, diagonal slots intersecting said radial slots and opening through the outer surface of the body, said diagonal slots defining radially spaced apart shoulders in said radial slots, feeding pins received in said radial slots to have their outer ends project above the surface of the body and tiltable relatively to said spaced apart shoulders into said diagonal slots to withdraw the outer ends of said feeding pins beneath the surface of said body, and a collar rotatably mounted on said reduced diameter shoulder and pivotal ly connected to the inner ends of said pins, said collar being rotatably adjustable to effect tilting movements of said pins out of and back into said radial slots.

7. A pin type strip feeding device according to claim 6, characterized by spring means urging said collar toward said one end of the body.

8. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a cylindrical body having a reduced diameter shoulder at one end thereof, a collar rotatably mounted on said shoulder and spring urged against the said one end of said body, a circumferential series of feeding pins interposed between said collar and said one end of the body, said pins being pivotally connected at their inner ends to said collar, a circumferential series of radial slots in said one end of the body receiving said pins, and diagonal slots intersecting said radial slots, relative rotatary adjustment of said collar resulting in said pins occupying alternative positions in said radial slots and in said diagonal slots.

9. A pin type strip feeding device according to claim 8, characterized in that said collar has a circumferential series of pivot positions for said pins, the aforementioned rotary adjustment of said collar consisting of shifting said pivot positions into and out of alignment with said radial slots.

10. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a cylindrical body having a reduced diameter shoulder, a circumferential series of radial slots in said one end of the body, diagonal slots intersecting said radial slots and opening through the outer surface of the body, said diagonal slots defining radially spaced apart shoulders in said radial slots, feeding pins received in said radial slots, to have their outer ends project above the surface of the body and tiltable relatively to said spaced apart shoulders into said diagonal slots to withdraw the outer ends of the feeding pins beneath the surface of said body, a collar rotatably mounted on said reduced diameter shoulder and having a circumferential series of holes near its periphery, said feeding pins having turned over portions at their inner ends received in said holes, said feeding pins being thus pivotally connected to said collar to effect tilting movement of said pins in response to relative rotary motion of said collar, spring means urging said collar toward said one end of the body, and radial slots in said collar opening through the peripheral edge thereof coincident with said holes to facilitate rotary adjustment of said collar and to provide a detenting force inhibiting movement of said feeding pins out of alignment with said radial slots.

11. A pin type strip feeding device, including a rotary body, radial slideways in said body opening through the periphery thereof, feeding pins in said slideways, means defining radially spaced apart shoulders in each of said slideways, and a collar supported in concentric relation to said body and relatively adjustable in a rotary sense, said feeding pins being pivotally connected to said collar alternatively to assume projected and retracted positions relatively to the periphery of said body.

12. A pin type strip feeding device, including a rotary body presenting a peripheral surface having a series of slideways opening therethrough, a manipulative member supported in concentric relation to said body and relatively rotatable, feeding pins received in said slideways and pivotally connected at their one ends to said member and radially spaced apart abutment portions in said slideways engageable with said pins intermediate their ends to enforce a tilting motion thereof in response to rotary rocking motions of said member relatively to said body, projecting and retracting the opposite ends of said feeding pins with respect to the peripheral surface of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 598,654 Cleland Feb. 8, 1898 2,112,833 Dybvig Apr. 5, 1938 2,271,306 Nichols Jan. 27, 1942 2,401,597 Winter June 4, 1946 

